ISLAMABAD, July 5: The National Assembly Standing Committee on Religious Affairs, Zakat and Ushr has expressed its reservations about Haj and Umrah arrangements. The committee met here on Tuesday at the Parliament House under the chairmanship of MNA Pir Mohammad Shah Khagga to discuss the Haj and Umrah arrangements during the year 2005, and collection and distribution of Zakat.

Members of the committee were of the view that buildings hired by private tour operators were of low quality and located far away from Harm Sharif, besides the services provided therein were also poor. The committee directed the religious affairs ministry to cancel the registration of those tour operators against whom complaints had been received for not fulfilling their contractual obligations.

It also asked the ministry to include four MNAs in the committee to oversee the Haj and Umrah arrangements and registration of tour operators.

MNA Pir Mohammad Shah Khagga asked the ministry to establish an information centre on its premises which would provide necessary information to intending pilgrims.

The committee also conveyed its displeasure with the repeated absence of the PIA chairman from the meeting. It asked the Secretary Ministry of Religious Affairs to ensure his presence in the next meeting.

The standing committee also decided to hold meetings with provincial Zakat and Ushr departments to remove impediments from the system and make it effective.